Name/Title
Norwood House | 15 Key Street, Eastport, Maine | I7-0C3-16 | District #44Entry/Object ID
044Description
This two and a half story Greek Revival style house was built in 1824. With a wrap around porch supported by a long series of Doric columns, this house is Eastport’s most notable and classic example of the Greek Revival style. A pediment roof with chimneys at both ends adds to the Greek Temple effect. extending across the front and two sides of the main house. There is a four bay front with tall windows on the first floor and a main side entrance facing east. A later large ell addition extends to the rear of the house. The house was built for J.K. Norwood, a local merchant, and his family was still living there in 1855. Soon afterwards, the house was bought by the Whelpley family. During the Fenian Rebellion of 1866, Civil War Major General George Meade, Commander of the Union Army at Gettysburg, was sent to Eastport along with troops to patrol the border between Maine and New Brunswick. General Meade stayed at the Whelpley house and used the front rooms facing Key Street for his quarters. The general had the habit of chewing tobacco and apparently spit tobacco juice all over the Whelpley home. The Whelpley's son, Benjamin Whelpley, inherited the house. He was an accomplished pianist and composer and had a career based in Boston. When he returned to stay at the house he would give occasional concerts performed on his 1869 Chickering grand piano that had been given to him by the Chickering piano company of Boston. Guests at his performances included President Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt who would come over from their nearby summer home on Campobello Island in New Brunswick.
From Eastport Walking Tour Brochure, 2010:
47) The Norwood House 15 Key Street, Greek Revival with its peripheral Doric columns adding to the Greek Temple effect. J.K. Norwood, a local merchant, had this house built about 1824 and his family was still living there in 1855. During the Fenian Rebellion of 1866, Civil War Major General George Meade, Commander of the Union Army at Gettysburg, was sent to Eastport along with troops to patrol the border between Maine and New Brunswick. The next family which owned the house were the Whelpleys. General Meade stayed at the Whelpley house and used the front rooms facing Key Street for his quarters. While at Eastport, Meade caught pneumonia and nearly died. The general had the habit of chewing tobacco and apparently his aim was not good for he spit tobacco juice all over the Whelpley home. Mrs. Whelpley did not like Meade and his nasty habit of chewing tobacco did not endear him to her. Many years later, Mrs. Whelpley was still upset with General Meade and told everyone just what she thought of him and his disregard for her house.
Comment in response to TIMA Facebook post of April 25, 2025 of photograph of the Norwood House:
Dorothea Hoo
My great aunt, Amy Etta (Doughty) Varney, from Deer Island lived here from 1898 to 1964, as did her daughters, Violet and Marianne Varney. Truly great to see this old beauty being restored.
